Following postgraduate study, John went into counselling and social work, joining the polytechnic system to teach and work as a Counsellor in 1978, becoming Head of Arts and Community Department at Southland Polytechnic in 1979. He was the founding Director of Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic in 1984.

Appointed CEO of Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) in April 1994, John held that position until 2006.
John developed the proposal for the establishment of Bahrain Polytechnic through Polytechnics International New Zealand and then worked as consultant to implement the proposal before being appointed as the founding CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic in September 2008.

Over the last 25 years John has held a number of positions in the Tertiary Education sector including President of the Association of Polytechnics in New Zealand (now known as ITP New Zealand), along with membership of numerous academic and professional related committees and bodies. He is a founding member of the Tertiary Accord of New Zealand (TANZ) and the Canterbury Tertiary Alliance (CTA). John was a member of the Education New Zealand Board and a board member of Polytechnics International New Zealand (PINZ).